Kevin Hart says it’s time for audiences ‘to get back to a place of respect’ after Dave Chappelle attack

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Actor and comedian Kevin Hart has called for more respect from audiences after comic Dave Chappelle was attacked on stage earlier this week. Hart also called for greater respect for comedians and live acts, saying: “It’s time to get back to a place of respect for your live entertainer.” The Jumanji actor said: “Somebody getting their ass whipped sends a message out to other people that was like, ‘You know, I was thinking about doing that, but seeing that, I don’t really want to do that.’ “I think that the world that we’re in right now, there’s a lot of lines that have gotten blurred, and sometimes you got to take a couple steps backwards to take some steps forwards.” Chappelle previously faced a backlash over comments about transgender people in his Netflix comedy special The Closer. “We’ve now lost sight of the relationship of audience to comedian, and that line has gotten blurred.” He continued: “So when I say we need to get back to the place of respecting the entertainer, respect the craft. If you’re coming, come and have a good time and enjoy the person that you saw; if you have no interest in that, you don’t have to buy a ticket.” Chappelle released a statement through his spokesperson noting that his four-night run at the Hollywood Bowl ties him with Monty Python for the most headlined shows of any comedian at the famous venue and added that he refused to allow the “incident to overshadow the magic” of the historic moment.